Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-12-10
SUPPOSED GIANTS.

SUPPOSED GIANTS.
Long ago, and in fact, in almost every
period of human history, we find reference
to giants, supposed human beings of enor-
nous size and so complete and serious are
the discussions and measurements in many
of the old histories and scientific works
that there can be no doubt as to the good
faith of the writers. In the tenth, eleventh
and twelfth centuries some of the most i'm
portant controversies among the wise men
were in relation to these ''fnds" or discov-
cries, which, it is needless to say, were not
what they were supposed to be-though
certainly giants.
About the middle of the eleventh CEN
fury the scientific world of Europe was
thrown into great excitement by the re-
port that the body of Pallas, the son of
Evander. had been discovered under the
tomb Of Emperor Henry III. The bones
were of immense size, and the finders con-
jectured that if placed together the figure
would stand as high as the walls of Rome.
This story was received by the incredulsus;
but later the remains were shown to be
those of fossil elephant-a giant, indeed,
but not human one.
In the fifteenth century numbers of fos-
sill elephants were discovered, which, with
hardly an exception, were considered
giants, and one excavated in Dauphine
during the reign of Louis NH. caused
more controversy than any subject, politi-
cal or scientific, of the time All classes
of scientific men were arrayed against each
other, the two parties being divided as to
whether the bones were those of an ele-
plant or the giant Teutobochus.
Later in 1877 the inhabitants of Luz
cerne, Switzerland, announced to the world
that giant had been discovered in their
precincts. The announcement was made
by distinguished man of science, Pro-
fessor Felix Platter, of Baele, who exam
ined the remains by order of the Council,
and reported as above; and forthwith the
eminent professor was requested to make a
design of the giant restored, which he did,
giving the figure of a man about twenty
feet IN hight, and this the proud populace
adopted to support the arms of their city.
The design and some of the bones can still
be seen in the College of Jesuits, at Lu-
cerne. But when Bhumenbach examined
the bones he Immediately pronounced them
tn Sc of an elephant, much to the mortif-
cation of some, while others held out for
the giant.-C. r. Holder IN Vide Awdke.
ELEPHANTS IN THE LUMBER BUSINESS.
Lazy and clumsy-looking as the elephant
appears in our menageries, where it is
merely an object of curiosity, in Asia it is
as useful an animal as the horse, and is.
indeed, employed in a greater variety of
ways.
There are few, if any, tasks which
horse can be trusted TO perform without
careful and constant guidance; whereas
the elephant is frequently given as much
independence of action as a man would
have for the same work. This is notably
the case in the lumber-yards of Rangoon
and Maulmein, where the entire operation
of moving and piling the heavy timber is
performed by male elephants without any
special supervision by the keepers.
The logs to be moved are teakwood,
which is very heavy They are cut into
lengths Of twenty feet, with a diameter or
perhaps a square, of about foot. An
elephant will go to log, kneel down.
thrust his tusks under the middle of it.
curl his trunk over it, test it to see that it
is evenly balanced, and then rise with it
and easily carry it to the pile which is
being made. Placing the log carefully on
the pile in its proper place, the sagacious
animal will step back a few PAGES and
measure with his eye to determine whether
or not the log needs pushing one way or
another. 1t will then make any necessary
of position. In this way, with
out word of command from its mahout
or driver, it will go on with its work.
To do any special task, it must, of course
be directed by the mahout; but it is mar
Vicious to see how readily this great crea-
ture comprehends its instructions, and how
it makes use of its strength
If log to heavy to be carried is to be
moved short distance, the elephant will
bend low, place his great head against the
end of the log, and then with great ex-
ertion of strength and weight throw his
body forward and fairly push the log along
or, to move the log any great distance, he
will encircle it with chain and drag his
his load behind him.
As a rule, however, the work of drag
ging is done by the female elephants since,
having no tusks, they cannot carry logs as
the male elephants do. A man could
hardly display more judgment in the adj
justment of the rope or chain around
log nor could a man with his two hands
tie and unit knots more skillful!y than do
they with their trunks.-John r. Cornell
IN 81. Nicholas.
HOW THE BEARS HELPED ONE ANOTHER.
Bob Bruin was a good, young bear, that
minded what his father and mother said
to him.
"When you take walk out of the
forest" said Mr.. and Mrs. Bruin to Bob,
" don't go near those houses. Men live in
them, and they treat bears very badly"
What do they do?" asked Bob.
"Oh," said Mr.. Bruin, sometimes they
kill us and eat our flesh Sometimes thev
tie a great log to our legs so that we can
not run"
"Ah," said Bob, "but I would bite
them"
"To prevent that they would tie great
muzzle on your mouth; so keep away from
them, Bob
Bob promised to obey. But one day,
while walking outside the wood, he fell
into pit. He roared so loud that Mr..
and Mrs. Bruin came running out to see
what was the matter. When they came
W tllc piL tlSS saw SoIlS NUS ana IrulL
and buns lying on the grass So they
made step forward to get these nice
things, when down they went where Bob
was, with the buns and nuts.
They found that the food had been laid
on twigs and leaves across the pit, which
was dug as trap for them to fall into.
But how to get out was the puzzle.
After little while Mrs Bruin got on
top of Mr.. Bruins shoulders and so scram-
bled out of the pit.
"Now, Bob, you do the same, and Phi
tell you how you may then help me out"
So Bob got out of the pit as his mother
had done.
"Now," said Mr. Bruin, ego to the woods
and bring me back a strong branch of
tree" They did so and placed the end at
the bottom of the pit.
'rNow, hold the end tight on the top"
said Mr.. Bruin, "and FL try and climb
up"
So Bob and Mrs. Bruin held the branch
at the top of the pit, and Mr.. Bruin, who
could climb very well, managed to scram-
bic out of the pit.
They all went home again to the forest
in safety, and had long talk about men,